The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errors of Papists, Arminians,…The true doctrine of justification asserted and vindicated, from the errours of Papists, Arminians,…

¹5. We pray for the sense and feeling of this pardon in our consciences more and more. For although God hath pardoned our sin, yet if we know not of this, it taketh off much from our comfort and Gods glory; we are in this case like some Heir or Prince, that hath many temporal dignities, but by reason of his infancy doth not understand it. Hence David, though Nathan told him, His sin was pardoned, yet Ps. 51. he prayeth for mercy and pardon, and that in a plentiful manner; so that although a sin is perfectly remitted, so that it cannot be more of less forgiven then it is, yet the assurance or knowledge of this, may be more or less; and indeed though to have sins pardoned be an objective happiness, yet to know that they are pardoned, is formal happiness; so that he is completely happy, who both hath his sins pardoned, and also knoweth they are so; and this made David Ps. 103. so exult and rejoice, Bless the Lord, O my soul, who forgiveth all thine iniquities. This particular assurance enlarged his heart to praises. But although this be part of the sense in this Petition, yet this is not all we pray for, as the Antinomian contends; for we pray principally for the real exhibition of pardon; and secondarily for the Declaration and manifestation of it in our consciences. Their conceit is, That God from all eternity hath pardoned our sins past, present and to come, and that when we believe or repent, our sins are pardoned declaratively only to our conscience, they being forgiven before. This I shall handle in a Question by it ⟨p. 115⟩self: Only I shall lay down some few Arguments to prove that we do not only pray for assurance and manifestation of pardon, but also for pardon it self. The reasons are these,²

¹5. We pray for the sense and feeling of this pardon in our consciences more and more. For although God hath pardoned our sin, yet if we know not of this, it taketh off much from our comfort and Gods glory; we are in this case like some Heir or Prince, that hath many temporal dignities, but by reason of his infancy doth not understand it. Hence David, though Nathan told him, His sin was pardoned, yet